A space for observation, discovery, and growth
We Have Discussed Some Big Issues of Late – Let’s Revisit a Few with New Inputs
Let’s See – Where DID I Put that?
Almost everyone I know has “the drawer” in their home. You know, the one that seems to be the catch-all for everything that does not have a place to go. I regret to say I have 2-3 of these around my home. My whole garage may qualify for that status.
Writing a blog inevitably creates a digital drawer in this same tradition.
Because These Days, If You Can’t Laugh, You Might Cry Instead
The Sword Disguised as Pen
The art of the political or editorial cartoon is a fine and long-standing tradition. It has been a mainstay of American politics since our founding days. This art form actually predates this country by a long time. It seems that the ability to make fun of the high and mighty is a cherished tradition going back centuries.
We have been dealing with some pretty grim circumstances of late. And that was before the pandemic! Today, we will take a break and enjoy some of the better cartoons I have seen in recent weeks.
America is Having an Internal Search. Who are we? What Do We Value?
America Looks for Itself, in Itself
As the pandemic rolls through America, interesting characteristics are arising. They are arising for individuals and collectively. We find ourselves highlighting sometimes very different aspects of our values. Some are just different; some are in conflict.
This is not a new phenomenon. Like a collective Diogenes, we periodically seek to define who we are and what we stand for. But it is more important than ever this time. We must decide what are our national values and priorities going forward.
Join the discussion at: Is it Me or is it We? Is it Freedom or is it Community? All of the Above?
We Learn a Lot About Each Other in Such Times, Sometimes with a Laugh.
New Environments, Same Old DNA
Well, nothing like a few weeks of pandemic driven self-isolation to see what makes us all tick, eh? People change in new environments, as we see all around. But sometimes, we are predictable as can be.
Much of what has developed in society in recent weeks was foreseeable. Ah, but some were not so predictable. I have noted quite a few (changes? quirks? proclivities?) that I not have seen coming.
Join the discussion at: Who Knew?! Surprising Spin Offs from the Pandemic
Listen Up. I Have Good Sounds to Share
Magic in the Music
I consider the guitar about the most flexible and wide-ranging instrument in modern music. Now, take anything I say about music with a grain of salt. I play no instrument, save for a brief time with the Kazoo (funny story, there. Later.) I cannot read music. This is an inexcusable personal failure owing to lack of initiative. Who knows, if we are all quarantined for another month, I may solve that. I don’t even have very good hearing. But music moves me.
We Have The Tools. Two Problems Could Be Solved Easily. The Last One – Not So Much
The COVID-19 national crisis is one bad news story after another, as we all recognize. But the situation contains two problems that could be easily solved. We need only the will to do so.
Corruption Writ Large
The first of these is illustrated by the financial scandal around Senator Richard Burr and others. They apparently used insider information from official briefings for personal gain. They sold massive amounts of stock.
Join the discussion at: Covid-19: Three Non-medical Problems to Solve
A Handful of People Have Made Science Understandable, Yet Wonderous, to Us All
Spreading the Good News
Everyone reading this is likely familiar with the legend of Johnny Appleseed. Johnny was a real person, John Chapman, who lived in America’s early days. Chapman was an American pioneer nurseryman. He introduced apples into Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and present-day West Virginia.
He became famous due to his generous ways and his leadership in conservation. He planted apple seeds everywhere, making the trees and their valued fruit ubiquitous. You can actually still see one of his trees.
Join the discussion at: In Praise of the Johnny Appleseeds of Science
A Short List of Life’s Small Irritants
Let’s take a break from politics this week (Control yourselves. Stop all that cheering out loud!) This week, we are looking elsewhere for musings, reflections, and surprises.
BUT FIRST – ONE BIT of ELECTIONS RELATED NEWS
In most of the country, people are swamped with ads and news about elections. Court rulings or legislative changes make even the familiar unfamiliar in some places.
This week, a friend (Thanks, Jerry) put me onto something good. It comes from an organization we both know and trust (Hello there,
Not much, as a Matter of Fact
Consider the Zombie
The zombie. Certainly a popular fellow in mass entertainment these days. We seem to see them everywhere. Consider what makes them different from human beings.
A zombie, at first glance, looks like a human being. But, of course, it is not. It was a human being, but now it is the undead – not really dead or alive, but somewhere in-between. There is no heart. No soul is evident. It has no purpose other than sustaining itself by eating the occasional brain. This, of course,
Join the discussion at: What’s the Difference Between a Zombie and the Republican Party?
Not So Fast, There. Allow Me to Blur the Lines for You.
Drawing Boxes and Coloring Inside the Lines. Maybe Not.
Human beings have a tendency to divide things up into black and white. Real life often does not operate in that manner. Making hard divisions where they do not really exist deprives us of one of the joys of having a brain. To see how ideas and capacities cross over is one of life’s great joys. Let’s look at a few examples and celebrate the mélange.
Science, Anyone?
For much of my life,
Join the discussion at: Think You Know the Difference Between Art and Science?
